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The history of Hong Kong is the history of such fireworks. Hovering at the fringes of two empires, spread among mainland, islands and the remarkable harbor from which it takes its name, the territory has never fit neatly into the pure imperial mold. "Hence it follows," Lord Stanley wrote as early as 1842 to its first governor, Sir Henry Pottinger, "that methods of proceeding unknown in other British colonies must be followed at Hong Kong." Even before then, the region had shown maverick tendencies. Although Chinese imperial authorities maintained an outpost in Kowloon, the motley assortment of clans that populated the area--made up of Punti from Canton, Hoklos, itinerant Hakkas, and the boat-dwelling outcasts called Tankas--mostly governed themselves. By the early 19th century, however, the territory had become more closely linked to the booming commerce taking place at Canton, further up the Pearl River. In the island's harbor and many coves lurked unwelcome participants in that trade, like the notorious pirate Cheung Po, who commanded an armada of 270 ships.
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